Harley genuinely thought Professor Snape was perfectly suited to the Provoker Sequence of the Hunter Pathway.
His slow, sarcastic voice made it feel as though a venomous snake had coiled around you, hissing as it flicked its tongue.
In short, she really wanted to punch him!
After insulting Malfoy and docking Gryffindor a bunch of points, Professor Snape returned to the front row, perfectly content, and continued pretending nothing had happened as he instructed Harley.
"Miss Harley, you might consider using twice the standard amount of powdered snake fangs at this step."
Professor Snape spoke up as Harley continued working.
"But Professor Snape, that's not what the book says," Hermione challenged.
"Right, Professor Snape. What you're saying is different from both the recipe you wrote on the blackboard and the one in the textbook."
Harley raised the book in her hands and pointed to the instructions.
At Hermione's words, Professor Snape's face darkened instinctively.
"Talking back to a professor. Gryffindor loses—"
Just then, Harley's voice rang out.
"—one point! Five points to Gryffindor for having the courage to question things and ask questions!"
Professor Snape's attitude changed completely in an instant. Then he patiently explained to Harley,
"This is an improved version of the recipe that I developed... all by myself. The improved version works better.
I think you should learn this improved Potion recipe."
"But, Professor," Harley continued, "why does this happen?
Does adding more powdered snake fangs activate the properties of a certain herb more effectively?
Or is there some other reason?"
Professor Snape hesitated, then shook his head.
"Miss Harley, this is advanced material, so I can't explain it just yet."
"But Professor Snape, I'm really curious."
Harley gazed into Professor Snape's eyes, wearing an expression that mingled pleading with hurt.
To strengthen her influence over Professor Snape's will, Harley even blinked and used her Witch's supernatural ability.
Looking into Harley's big, watery green eyes, Professor Snape nearly gave in at once.
Professor Snape's lips didn't move, but Harley felt his voice resound beside her ear:
"Harley, being eager to learn and ask questions is a good habit. Since you've asked, I'd be more than happy to clear up your doubts.
How about this? Stay behind after class, and I'll explain it to you privately.
There's quite a lot to cover, though, so I'm afraid I'll have to give you some tasks first.
You'll need to read a few books before I can explain it to you.
Otherwise, even if you listen, you won't understand."
Harley nodded obediently. "Thank you for the advice, Professor." Hermione gave her a puzzled look. What advice?
Professor Snape nodded in satisfaction and was just about to say something when a series of noises suddenly came from behind them.
"Hissss—BOOM!"
A loud hissing sound came from the back of the classroom, followed by a violent explosion.
Harley and Professor Snape turned around at the same time. A thick cloud of green, acidic smoke and potions flying in every direction greeted them.
Professor Snape's eyes narrowed. He instinctively stepped in front of Harley, then reached for his wand.
But Harley was faster than Professor Snape.
Harley raised her left hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. The temperature in the classroom plummeted, and the flying potions turned into strange frost.
Once all the frost had fallen to the ground, Harley clapped her hands. The frost vanished, and the temperature in the classroom quickly rose again, though not by much.
Although Harley had reacted very quickly, quite a few students near Neville and Seamus were still caught in the blast.
Several students had swollen boils all over their arms and legs, and they screamed in pain.
Professor Snape came to his senses and pointed his wand at the Potion in Harley's cauldron, rapidly cooling it.
Then the Potions flew into the air and doused the students who had been caught in the blast.
"Nicely done, Miss Harley! Ten points to Gryffindor for protecting her classmates!"
Professor Snape spoke loudly, then turned to Neville and Seamus. The kind expression on his face turned unfriendly.
"If I'm not mistaken, you put the porcupine quills in without taking the cauldron off the fire, didn't you?"
His eyes seemed to blaze with fury.
"But what I can't understand is, what exactly did you do to make the cauldron explode so violently?
Are you idiots? I wrote every step out clearly on the blackboard, and you still managed to invent a new way to do it and make a brand-new mistake?
I couldn't make this Potion explode during brewing even with my eyes closed!
Twenty points from Gryffindor! The injured students, go to the Hospital Wing again!"
After Professor Snape collected everyone's work, class finally ended. Many students rushed out of the Potions Classroom.
Everyone had finally experienced firsthand Professor Snape's talent for docking Gryffindor points in every way imaginable.
Although Harley had earned Gryffindor fifty-five points in total, the house's overall score had somehow gone down by five.
Harley also had a feeling that Professor Snape was picking on the other Gryffindors.
But by the principles of a Demoness, if it wasn't her concern and she had no interest in it, she naturally wouldn't get involved.
Harley slowly packed up her cauldron and ingredients, occasionally tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
Professor Snape seemed to be carefully inspecting the Potions the students had handed in, but the corners of his eyes kept wandering.
At last, everyone had left the classroom. Hermione had also been sent away, with Harley claiming that she hadn't understood something in class and wanted to stay behind to ask questions.
"Professor!" Harley glanced around the now-empty classroom and called out in a clear voice.
"Could you tell me which books I should read first?"
Professor Snape had already put down the student work in his hands, and at some point, the classroom door had been shut.
Professor Snape tossed his hair and rapped the blackboard firmly with his knuckles. A long list of titles appeared on it.
Detailed Explanation of Herb Properties, Magical Potions, Jin Kui Yao Lue...
Professor Snape pointed to the books.
"These are all fairly basic. They explain the properties of various herbs.
"Especially Jin Kui Yao Lue. The original was written in an ancient Eastern language, and entirely by Muggles, yet it's still highly enlightening for wizards!
"Read these books as soon as you can, and then I'll be able to give you a brief explanation!"
Harley left the classroom, satisfied, with the long reading list in her arms.
She wasn't interested in the Potion for treating boils, of course. She was interested in the principles behind the properties of the ingredients.
The more she learned about this, the greater her chances of recreating the Potions of the Sequence Pathway world!
Harley decided to stop by the library and borrow some books before going to see Hagrid that afternoon.
After all, Professor Snape had given Harley a signed note, so she could borrow several books at once.
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